Table of contents
What is an Open Bite?
An open bite is a type of malocclusion, where your upper and lower teeth cannot bite together when your back upper and lower teeth are fully in contact with each other. This results in a visible gap between your upper and lower front teeth, which can be unsightly and negatively impact your dental health.
What Causes an Open Bite?
Several factors can cause an open bite, including:
- Tongue thrusting.
- Thumb or finger sucking.
- Prolonged pacifier use beyond age three.
- Genetics, as it can be an inherited condition.
Potential Problems Caused by an Open Bite
Sometimes a small open bite may cause few if any problems, but other times it can be more significant and may cause issues, including:
- Difficulty biting and chewing food, which can affect nutrition.
- Uneven tooth wear and tear.
- Speech difficulties, or you could have a slight lisp.
- Inability to close your mouth properly.
- Temporomandibular joint problems (issues with your jaw joints), which can be painful.
- Gum or jawbone loss.
How to Fix an Open Bite with Invisalign
Invisalign aligners can correct a variety of issues, including open bites. The system utilizes a series of clear, plastic aligners that are fully removable and custom-designed to move teeth into the correct positions without the need for brackets and wires typically found in traditional braces.
There are limitations on this treatment, as Invisalign works best for fixing mild to moderate open bites. If you have a more severe open bite, we may suggest an alternative treatment.
Some people may benefit from open bite jaw surgery. In this case, we may recommend seeing an oral and maxillofacial surgeon experienced in open bite surgery.
Benefits of Using Invisalign for an Open Bite
Benefits of choosing Invisalign for an open bite can include:
- Treatment is virtually invisible, especially compared to traditional fixed braces.
- The aligners are fully removable and designed to be smooth and comfortable to wear.
- There are no food restrictions with Invisalign since you remove them for meals.
- Oral hygiene is easier to maintain, since you take out the aligners for brushing and flossing, and there is no need to use special tools.
- Invisalign’s digital technology ensures predictable results.
With Invisalign, an open bite can be corrected discreetly and nearly invisibly using a system that has little impact on everyday life.
The Invisalign Treatment Process for an Open Bite
A brief outline of the Invisalign treatment process is provided below.
Step One: Consultation & Diagnostics
A consultation with our Invisalign dentist quickly determines if treatment is suitable for your needs. We can also explain more about what’s involved and answer any questions you may have.
Digital diagnostics include a 3D scan of your teeth, as well as possibly photos and 2D digital X-rays, to plan your treatment. Once the treatment plan is ready, we can review it with you, and it will include digital images showing how your teeth are expected to look after following the treatment plan.
Once you are satisfied with the plan, we can order your computer-generated aligners.
Step Two: Invisalign Treatment
When the aligners are ready, we show you how to insert and remove them, as well as how to clean them thoroughly. We will review your treatment plan with you, ensuring you know when to discard the current set of aligners and begin wearing the next set.
It’s extremely important to wear your aligners for at least 22 hours a day, preferably removing them only for brushing, flossing, and meals.
Step Three: Invisalign Checkups
Every 6 to 8 weeks, you return to NYC Dentistry Center so we can ensure your teeth are moving as expected, provide additional sets of aligners, and, if necessary, make any necessary adjustments to your treatment plan.
These visits are quick and non-invasive.
Step Four: Invisalign Retainers
Once your open bite is corrected, you must wear Invisalign retainers. These are equally discreet and made from the same clear plastic material. They are designed to retain your teeth in their new positions, as otherwise they will try to shift back to their original places.
Treatment Duration
A mild open bite correction could only require a few months of treatment. If you have a moderate open bite, treatment may take longer, typically 18 months or more.
Invisalign can provide an alternative to open bite braces, and the results are predictable if you follow the treatment plan properly.
A major advantage of choosing Invisalign for an open bite is the ability to preview how your teeth could look on completion of treatment. It can be reassuring and quite exciting to preview your new smile.
NYC Dentistry Center6 E 45th St #801
New York, NY 10017
(45th St. btw 5th Ave / Madison Ave)
(212) 518-6096